In The News

Immigration’s Role Often Overlooked in Global Economy

Leif Brottem February 21, 2006
The flow of immigrants from the global south to North America and Europe in search of work is often overshadowed by the flow of goods, capital and information. The financial support immigrants provide to developing countries once they settle elsewhere is 50 percent greater than the development aid to those same countries from all other sources. Increasingly, however, the US and the EU are...

Iran Plays Growing Role in Iraq, Complicating Bush’s Strategy

Jay Solomon February 16, 2006
When the Bush administration pressed for war in Iraq, the ideal scenario for reconstruction did not include significant influence from Iran. Iran’s influence is strongest on Iraq’s political arena, but extends to other realms of Iraqi life as well. While the ruling Shiite-dominated coalition has nominated a prime minister with strong links to Tehran, Iranian businessmen are principal investors...

So Long Dalai Lama: Google Adapts to China

Joseph Kahn February 15, 2006
Free-speech advocates continue to reproach the world’s technology and media giants for ready cooperation with the Chinese government’s moves to censor the internet. Yahoo offered up information about users’ email accounts that led to the convictions of so-called dissidents in 2003 and 2005. Microsoft pulled the plug on a major blog that drew the ire of Chinese censors. Cisco sold equipment...

Enlightened Independence

Arundhati Ghose February 15, 2006
On February 4, 27 out of 35 governing members of the IAEA expressed discontent over Iran’s emerging nuclear program. Rather than immediately referring Iran to the UN Security Council, however, the members passed a resolution that the author calls a “reporting procedure.” The work to contain Iran will be continued under the auspices of the IAEA, with no call for direct action from the Security...

Keeping North Korea from the Brink – Part I

Peter Beck February 14, 2006
Countries throughout the north Pacific recognize the grave danger of the North Korean nuclear program, but lack a coherent strategy for restraining it. This two-part series examines the specific concerns for US and China in containing the program – as well as proposals for a long-term resolution. Peter Beck, an analyst with the International Crisis Group in Seoul, notes that US economic...

Chinese Censors of Internet Face “Hacktivists” in US

Geoffrey A. Fowler February 14, 2006
The Chinese government tries to maintain strict control over citizens’ access to the internet, but computer-savvy free-speech activists abroad are making that job more difficult. Among those activists is Bill Xia, a North Carolinian who distributes a program called “Freegate” that allows Chinese web surfers to circumvent their government’s online censorship. Designed by a Chinese-American,...

China's Powerhouse Vision for 2050

Jonathan Watts February 13, 2006
China released a report from its leading research institute with an optimistic vision for the nation’s next 50 years. The projections depend on China undergoing a transition from a predominantly agricultural society to a suburban knowledge-based economy – and moving 500 million people closer to the cities. China would also have to maintain a strong growth rate, now at 9 percent. Noting that China...